California state Sen. Alan Lowenthal announced Friday that he is running in a proposed Congressional district in Long Beach, setting up a possible three-way Democratic primary with Reps. Laura Richardson and Linda S&aacute;nchez.

The California Citizens Redistricting Commission released its first draft map a week ago, and both Members&rsquo; homes were drawn into a new Long Beach-based district. However, both could still run in other districts, and the map will be altered over the next two months before it&rsquo;s finalized Aug. 15.

&ldquo;I live and work in this community, taught here, and served as the elected representative for much of this district,&rdquo; Lowenthal said in a statement. &ldquo;It would be my honor to represent my home and my community in Congress.&rdquo;

Before being elected to the state Senate, Lowenthal, a retired psychology professor at California State University, Long Beach, represented the area for six years in the state Assembly and six years on the Long Beach City Council. He is term-limited and therefore can't run for re-election.

Richardson and S&aacute;nchez are not expected to announce where they are running next year until the maps are finalized, but Members across California have been following the newly independent process closely as their careers are tied to the final product. Lowenthal is one of many state legislators taking advantage of the upheaval caused by the new redistricting process.